The Sprout
The Seacourt Stream being aerated after a major sewage spill in 2016
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 151 October 2020
The Sprout
Issue 151, October 2020
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 Back to School
11 Planning Applications
13 Remembrance Sunday
15 West Way Shopping
17 Dr Blazewicz – a local hero
21 A Little Art goes a Long Way
23 Foodbank Update
29 Seacourt Hall AGM
31 West Way – nearly there
33 Poems for Breakfast
35 Prescriptions & Chemists
38 Randoms
39 Local organizations
From the Editor
What does the October Sprout have to offer? It was time, we felt, to
review how things have changed since Lockdown. First, the schools –
kids are back, how’s it going so far (p5)? The Foodbank (p23) is
almost back to normal, the Seacourt Hall is open again and looking
for public-spirited citizens to join the management committee (p29),
the shopping centre is almost back to where it was before the
rebuilding started (p15) perhaps now is a good time to rethink how
it could be made to work! Our retail reporter has some good ideas.
Oxford’s art galleries are reopening cautiously (p21).
Remembrance Sunday will be a little different this year confined to
30 participants, and observed behind locked gates on 8th November
(p13), but there will be a two-minute silence in the shopping centre at
11am on 11th November, as in other years. Looking back, theres a
tribute to a local hero, the much loved Dr Blazewicz, who left the local
practice in 2012, and our cover shows a picture of earlier problems
with sewage in the Seacourt Stream that have come back to haunt
Thames Water once again (see page 38). Lots going on then, and the
Sprout is here to report it! Happy reading!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
In response to the letter from Colin and Sally Hersom last month, re the
length of time it is taking to get the Library open again, the Sprout has
been sent this letter from the County Council’s Library Service:
Oxfordshire County Council IT department are currently working closely
with the Broadband suppliers and building landlord to arrange the
installation of the cables which will connect the Library to the County
Council network.
After many months of negotiation, we understand all that is outstanding
is the cabling from the building’s plant room into the library. As the
cabling needs to go through areas of the building not leased by OCC
(including the Parish Council office) a Wayleave between the providers
and the landlord is required and needs to be approved.
All parties involved are aware that this work has taken considerably
longer [than it should?] and are working hard to deliver the connection
to allow the new Botley Library to be opened at the nearest opportunity
so it can support the community. Once this last piece of work is
completed the library is ready to reopen.
We do know staff are desperately keen to get back to their beautiful new
library and can’t wait to welcome customers back.
Simon Lay, Library Operations Manager (Branch Network)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAD NEWS!
There will be NO 2020 APPLE DAY.
It’s been scuppered by the Covid-19 rules.
Maybe next year+
3
Back to School
The Sprout wondered how everyone was finding being back at school
under the new set-up, so we asked a few local parents, teachers and
pupils. The first response is from a teacher at Botley Primary.
Botley School
It was a joy to see so many smiling faces coming back through the
school doors at the beginning of September. The new headteacher, Mrs
Jo Reid, was in post, the academic year had started and a new kind of
normal was about to begin. When we closed for lockdown on March
20th as a result of Covid-19, not one of us was prepared for such a long
period of absence and for so many new tasks to be thrust upon us! We
missed so many of the lovely events we would have shared together
May Dancing, Sports Day, our infamous ‘Botley’s Got Talent’
competition, the Year 6 performance and the Leavers’ Assembly to
name but a few … but most of all we missed the children!
Getting ready for
reopening was a
challenge in itself
our main priority
was the safety of
the children, staff
and community, as
a result many an
hour was spent
trying to think of all
the ways we could
overcome the
many barriers we
could predict and
those which arose
as time went on.
With such a large school building we were confident there was sufficient
space for us all within our class ‘bubbles’, but staffing all areas has been
a challenge we have risen to. We have staggered break and lunch
times, organised the use of equipment, recorded virtual assemblies and
are preparing for our next bout of online learning provision should we
need to lockdown again in a hurry. The picture shows a Year 2 class
with desks in rows but still trying to look child-friendly!
All these practical things are do-able, and we continue to watch the
4
latest Government guidance like hawks, adjusting and reviewing our
procedures on a daily basis. So far, the children have presented as
resilient and robust they have returned with the intention of getting on
with the new ways and our start has been peaceful and purposeful. But
what about what we can’t see? We are fully expecting to be supporting
our families throughout this time and in the future and will work around
people as much as we can. Staff have come back with vigour but
distancing from colleagues whilst at work, not sharing problems or
talking through daily situations will continue to add to an already
stretched workforce who really just need to share a cup of tea or coffee
and put the education system to rights as we normally do!
It is a privilege to work with the young people here at Botley School, to
influence some of their experiences as they grow and progress on their
academic journey and to instil in them a love of learning and a sense of
adventure as we face new challenges both academic and personal.
There is always a sense of calm around the school and our return to a
Dickensian seating plan of sitting in rows facing the front has
exacerbated the calm however, we are here to make the best of the
present and the future, as we have since school opened in 1938, and
we will continue to ensure we promote our over-arching school values:–
BE BRILLIANT, BE SAFE!
Alex Neil
North Hinksey School
This comes from a classroom assistant in the Reception class:
Working as a Voluntary Helper in North Hinksey School
for over seven years has given me a sense of joy and
fulfilment. The ethos of the school is to care for one
another and to flourish and achieve. It is said that you
are never too old to learn. You can learn a lot from
listening to children as you stop and talk to them in
passing. They are sometimes wise beyond their years.
As a Women’s Institute member I have been able to
pass on some of my skills to them. In the past we have
enjoyed cooking together, making anything from Pasta
Bake to Hard Tack biscuits that would have been eaten on board a ship
long ago. We have cooked a variety of both savoury and sweet items
such as Cheese Twists, Dragon biscuits (see picture), Flapjacks, and
not forgetting the memorable tiny Quiches!!!!
5
The gardening sessions in the
lunch hour have also proved to be
great fun. We have grown so
many things in the raised bed, and
the garden outside Year 1 looks
stunning (with lettuces in photo).
We also attempted growing
mushrooms. This was a great
success. Soon the cooking and
the gardening will begin again.
The future for this at North
Hinksey School looks positive and I look forward with great optimism.
Jenny Holloway
And finally, from the Sarfatti family, who have four children in two
schools:
This summer we had a long time to prepare for the first day at school.
Six months to be exact. By the time school started we were so prepared
that we naturally had to leave a few things behind.
Lia, now in Year 9, received a much needed extra day at home before
school started. Home was so quiet that day that she had to liven it up
with some background music. But before that, she actually left the
house with Alma and her friends to provide some senior advice on their
way up to school.
Alma started Year 7: new school, new teachers, new bag (a really pretty
one). In the morning we found we didn’t need to walk her up the hill as a
group of excited girls were waiting outside our house to conquer the hill
together. Coming back from her first day, she felt rather lucky to be with
children she has known since they were six months old!
Ben and Emmie went back to Botley School and it took us all a few
days to understand which side of the road to walk on, when to wear the
masks and generally to get used to this surreal new world. Back they
came from their first day, so happy to have met their friends and
teachers and yet reporting that ‘school is so different now, we miss our
friends from the other classes who are not in our bubbles!’
A few days later, I started to appreciate the ‘joy’ of having children in
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different schools. I came back from the Botley School drop-off, to learn
from the girls that Ben had left with one of his trainers and one of Lia’s.
On my way back to school to swap the shoes, I had a call from Lia to
say that Jasmine had followed her to school and she’s
concerned that the little kitten won’t find the way back.
The next call was from Alma who just wanted me to
know’ she had forgotten the shoes she needed for her
art class. Driving up the hill at the last minute to give
her the right shoes, I saw Lia arriving. She had
dropped off the kitten at a friend’s house up the hill
resourceful child of mine! The time was 9.16am when
morning events came to an end, and I felt pretty happy
the kind of feeling you have when you’ve managed various dramatic
events over a few sites. Maybe I should apply for a job at the fire
station.
This article was supposed to reflect the children’s experience of coming
back to school, but somehow we got to the publisher's deadline
realizing we had been talking a lot about it but we hadn’t written
anything yet. So this is the result of a joint family chat about the first
days of school. ‘Luckily’ we are self isolating at the moment, waiting for
Covid-19 test results, so once again we have some time to spend
together and actually talk.
Orit Sarfatti
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LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P20/V1698/FUL
5 Toynbee Close. Extend existing
bungalow to form one 2 bed unit &
two 1 bed units.
10 August
TDD: 5 Oct
P20/V2050/HH
25 Yarnells Hill. Erection of front
porch.
13 August
TDD: 8 Oct
P20/V2100/PDH
22 Sycamore Rd. Rear flat roof
extension for family room & WC.
21 August
TDD: 2 Oct
P20/V1495/HH
Holm Lodge Harcourt Hill. Install
electric wooden gate at entrance to
drive.
24 August
TDD: 19 Oct
P20/V2149/LDP
3 St Pauls Crescent. Formation of
habitable room in loft space.
7 September
TDD: 2 Nov
7
Remembrance Day 2020
The annual Remembrance Service at the Commonwealth War Graves
will unfortunately be a restricted event this year due to the rules around
public gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The service will take place at the War Graves on Sunday 8th November
but will be restricted to just 30 invited guests. The whole cemetery will
be closed with gates locked between 10am and 12:30pm on the day.
With such small numbers permitted, the focus is on inviting
representatives of the fallen military and children from local schools,
Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts.
We realise that, for the many hundreds of local people and visitors to
this event each year, this will be disappointing news. We are determined
to mark the event and to try to make it available in other ways. The
service can be followed on Radio Cherwell as in previous years, and we
plan to film and live stream the service online. You will find details on
the parish council website (northhinksey-pc.gov.uk) from 1st
November.
The 11th November this year falls on a Wednesday. As in past years, a
two-minute silence will be observed and a bugler will play the Last Post
in the centre of Botley. We are pleased that this year we can return to
the West Way
shopping centre
for this event.
Social distancing
will be observed,
and if you are able
to attend on the
day, please follow
the government
guidelines.
Graham
Fairclough, Chair
of North Hinksey
Parish Council’s
Remembrance
Committee
8
Blue Sky Thinking on West Way Shopping
Since my article in July I have been out and about a bit more, but my
initial reaction to a request from the Editor for an update was that if
anything is actually happening our readers are likely to know before me!
However West Way Square is taking shape and does actually look like
the pictures, students have moved in (occupancy is around 50%) and
the Premier Inn are finishing their fit out.
I have even ventured into the main car park: you have to admire the
way that the design of the exit was given to a work-experience student!
If you recall, in June I received the following from Latham High (BDC’s
letting agent):We have had strong interest from both local and national
retail and restaurant operators in the scheme and we are in detailed
negotiation on a number of
units.’
Since we have heard nothing
about the outcomes from these
‘detailed negotiations’ I tried to
obtain an update, but the helpful
person at Latham High says: ‘I
can’t seem to get hold of my
boss to clarify.’ So, zero out of
10 for communication from the
organization that we are relying
on for the future shape of our
retail offer.
Of course, we know that these
are very tough times for retailers
of any sort. Many well known
high street names will disappear
(or have already) and the casual
dining scene will never be the
same again. Over 20,000 stores
are expected to close in 2020
following 16,000 closures in
2019. These closures are mainly
caused by high costs (rents,
rates and labour), low
profitability, and loss of sales to
online. However, it is not all bad news. In an online poll on Botley Notice
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Board Facebook page, the top votes for new retail are Café/Coffee
Shop, Bakery, Chippy, Restaurant and Greengrocer, none of which are
affected by online sales and all of which provide a vital local service.
The issue of high costs is a reality that needs to be addressed but this is
surely not beyond the expertise of BDC?
Maybe it is time for BDC to review their business model and decide
what overall retail offer is going to make West Way Square actually
work. Sitting around waiting for a national chain or an independent
entrepreneur to pay ‘normal’ rent is unlikely to be the answer, at least
not in the foreseeable future.
Now is the time for creative thinking. I suspect that local people would
love an independent café, that sold bread and maybe had an evening
offer (a bit like Café Aloha?). Why not advertise a turnover-based rent
and let BDC make money when the tenant does? This might be the way
BDC are thinking, but I haven’t heard anything like this.
Essentially, Botley residents want exactly what they had before! There
was nothing wrong with the previous retail offer, it was just situated in a
dilapidated and unloved structure. Now that Lloyds and Chancellors
have re-located, we have by and large, the core retail offering we had
before, except for a hairdresser, a take-away and a café.
I understand that there has been some interest in a take-away in the old
Post Office, so maybe that will lead to something for West Way Square?
There are plans for a Farmer’s Market in the piazza and I am assured
that this will happen once the outside building works are complete.
Shared space is an idea worth looking at. ‘The Shop Witney’ is a pop-up
shop where up to 40 local artisans can display their offerings as a co-
operative venture (a bit like an antiques arcade).
There has also been some work done nationally on Banking Hubs,
where local banks and building societies share space. Botley would
seem an ideal location for such an offer.
Shared space projects need sponsors. Could this be an opportunity for
Mace to develop some new expertise? We can only hope!
Mike Cockman
P.S. Most units are still available to let. Thanks to Caroline Potter for this
link to the developers’ brochure with a map of all the units showing
where the current ones are going: https://westwaysquare.com/wp-
content/uploads/2019/11/west waysquare_brochure.pdf
10
A Local Hero
Remember Dr Blazewicz? Selfless, empathetic, energetic, always ready
to go the extra mile for his patients, he was something of a local legend
in Botley. For decades he was the most popular practitioner at the Elms
Road surgery, as it was known for many years, before it reinvented itself
under the changes brought in by the Coalition Government. The
restructure was too much for Dr B., who left the practice in 2012
saying, memorably, that he ‘was a doctor, not a businessman’.
What happened to him? He was of an age to retire but did he? The
Sprout has received an update from his sister Barbara, and we are glad
to report that our loss is the county’s gain. Here is her breathless
account of her brothers life, post 65:
“His thirst for helping as many people as possible (medically and
otherwise) has certainly not diminished as the years have gone by if
anything it has increased!! He continues diligently and energetically
in all hours going between Bicester Banbury Witney Abingdon
St Barts (Oxford) and Henley on Thames with locum work at Bury
Knowle/Wood Farm and Bicester surgeries.
In his spare time he attends medical lectures enabling him to enhance
his incredible knowledge even more!! In June 2013 he was delighted to
become a PACES [Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills]
Examiner (the first GP ever!!).
From March 2019, as an Alumnus of St John’s College, Oxford, he was
able to pass on his experience as an Oxford Clinician with his famous
bedside approach to teaching medical students (which he maintains by
keeping active with his work in clinics and casualty) so enabling his own
frontiers of
knowledge to
continue to
grow.
If I had to
describe my
brother in one
word it would
be HERO and
our world is so
much better for
having him in it.
He also finds
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time for hobbies motorbikes, cars and mathematics all play in
important part in his life. (The photo, taken last year, shows him with his
beloved Morgan.)
Over the years, he has acquired an amazing collection of patients and
colleagues, and it’s for you that I decided to write this article...
I am so glad that my brother continues to be a ‘people’s doctor’. In fact
he is as busy as ever (the way he likes to be) and judging from the
comments and feedback, he is recognized as ‘one of a kind’ – just as he
has always been.
Being a doctor for Les is so much more than just being medically savvy.
It’s a way of life, and he wouldn't want it any other way.
His parents, who were both in the Polish army during the Second World
War, survived the horrors of that period to find safety in England. His
passion for medicine and mathematics have been passed on to his two
daughters, one of whom is a GP and the other a Maths teacher.
Ag MacKeith (with thanks to Barbara Blazewicz)
12
A Little Art goes a Long Way!
Will we ever feel normal again? As I write, the new normal is
threatening to revert to lockdown, with a significant rise in the number of
Covid cases. One way of coping with our renewed state of unease is to
take in some of the art exhibitions the Oxford area is blessed with.
After several months' closure, the Ashmolean reopened in August, with
arrangements carefully designed to protect visitors and staff. At the
moment, it is not possible just to wander in off the street as before. The
total number of visitors at any given time is strictly controlled, so you
have to book a free, timed ticket for general entry to the Museum overall
and if you want to see one of their special exhibitions, such as the
current Young Rembrandt, a separate booking is required (NB: Young
Rembrandt has been extended to November 1st)
The ticket procedure was quick and efficient when I went there recently.
Even from outside the building, your safety and comfort are assured:
there are staff greeting you at the entrance, footprints and arrows on the
floors throughout the building, and measures to help guide you through
the myriad small galleries without feeling edgy about social distancing.
So although at the moment you can't wander quite at will, arrangements
allow you to see everything you might want at your own relaxed pace.
Hand sanitisers are strategically located. Numbers within the Shop and
the Cafe also are controlled, for maximum comfort. In the Cafe, the
number of tables has been reduced, and they are spread apart; each
table is sanitised after every use.
So, I did feel it had been a good day out at the Ashmolean, much to be
recommended.
But of course that's not the only local gallery; we are spoiled for choice
in this area. Modern Art Oxford will be reopening on 2nd October after
its lengthy Covid closure. And there are small private galleries, too, to
visit for visual feasts. So many to choose from, but why not start with
the Carey Blyth Gallery at 8 Woodstock Road, where local artists often
are featured (jennyblythfineart.co.uk for details), or a few minutes
further afield, the new Zuleika Gallery in Woodstock, next to the
Museum (zuleikagallery.com). Your comfort and safety are guaranteed
at these smaller venues, too: numbers are restricted; face masks
essential; hand sanitisers in place.
All in all, a pleasant way to forget about the dreaded virus!
Ruth Cameron
13
Foodbank in Coronavirus Times
In March it became apparent that even with Marcelo’s meticulous
hygiene regime, we could not continue our usual crowded operation
with a warehouse full of people and up to three volunteers to a van.
Many volunteers had already come to the sensible decision to step
down, so it was clear that we would need time to reboot.
First things first At the beginning of the lockdown when pubs,
restaurants and professional kitchens were closing, we sent emails and
received free help from a marketing company to publicise our request
for food surplus. We then collected food offered by schools, colleges,
restaurants, pubs and other businesses, including a vast 4–5 ton
TKMaxx haul. Meanwhile we dealt with hundreds of emails and phone
calls from prospective donors, would-be volunteers, current volunteers,
hungry people, confused professionals and curious well-wishers.
We closed for three weeks from the end of March, to have a rest and
work out how best to continue operating without risking everyone’s
health. During the closure period we cleaned everything, even things
that probably hadn’t seen soap and water in seven years. Emma
continued to answer emails and phone calls throughout, redirecting
people to the services that were still operating.
April’s changes We reopened in April for
just three weekdays plus Sunday as we
didn’t feel we had enough business to go
back to seven days a week. We have gone
down to three basic shifts each day (from
6/7). As those days filled up and become
incredibly busy (and exhausting) at the
base, that turned out to be a very good
decision! For five months we have run the
entire operation with a 30-strong team of
volunteers and staff. They have all been
absolutely fantastic, doing the same shift
week after week. We hardly needed the
rota…
14
Busy, busy, busy About two-thirds of the groups we would normally
supply remained closed throughout lockdown, but we resumed
deliveries to 25 mainly residential charities (e.g. homeless, mental
health). This period also saw many new community groups arise to fill
the gaps in food provision, since with the continued need for social
distancing all community meals remain closed. Groups are now
providing take-away services, delivering food parcels or ready meals.
Furloughed chefs offered their services and kitchens to cook gourmet
meals. Existing groups adapted their operation to try to help more
people in need (the network of fridges in the county – originally set up to
reduce fairly modest amounts of food waste expanded hugely in this
period, some of them even delivering food parcels). Some charity staff
are still making up food parcels or cooking meals for delivery to their
clients whilst their premises remain closed.
Playing our part When we reopened we decided to support all of
these initiatives as best as we could. For most it meant they would have
to collect from us as they did not have permanent homes or transport.
We created a schedule for all visitors to the base, giving each a
dedicated time slot. This has worked really well. We now have about 30
groups visiting over three weekdays in cars, vans, 20-ton trucks --
which has proved a very efficient way of moving stock on!
The volume of fresh stock we receive plummeted almost overnight once
the country had gone into lockdown. From a daily average of 1.2 tons of
‘surplus’ (as weighed by our friends at Unipart) we are probably down
to half a ton on each weekday we’re open. And very little of that is fruit
and veg. On the plus side we have saved countless pallets of
kombucha and tortilla chips from going to waste.
In terms of fresh/chilled food we have retained all of our supermarkets,
and two wholesalers (Savona and Chef Direct), as well as some smaller
niche food producers, and have just resumed our once-a-week slot at
Hello Fresh. We have as yet to re-establish contact with Fresh Direct or
Roots, for years our main source of fresh produce.
15
DEFRA £16m Funding In May we were asked to be part of the
government/Fareshare collaboration which would see tons of ambient
stock delivered to key distributors like us. Given that we had so little
fresh food it seemed a good way to continue supporting the community,
and we quickly became a hub for almost every group in the county! Our
landlord kindly lent us another empty unit on the estate. This week we
took delivery of the final batch of 168 pallets (they arrive 26 at a time on
an articulated lorry), upwards of 200 tons in total. Day to day, Marcelo
manages this warehouse, while Matthew runs the old base.
A few weeks ago we restarted a collection and delivery shift on
Tuesdays and Thursdays so we are currently operating six days a
week. Two or three of our charities are reopening each week but they
are offering a limited service to their clients or again, providing a food
parcel service. But we have the structures in place now for a full return
to our original operation should it be needed or, more importantly,
possible – in these coronavirus times.
Cathy Howard
16
Seacourt Hall AGM, 10th November
and Nominations for Public Representatives
Seacourt Hall is a registered charity managed by a committee of
trustees (Seacourt Hall Management Committee), made up of
representatives of the North Hinksey Parish Council (NHPC), hall users
and public representatives.
Two members of the public will be elected as Charity Trustees (public
representatives) by residents over 18, present at the AGM, which will
take place on 10th November (7pm at Seacourt Hall or via Zoom, to be
decided nearer the time). Any North Hinksey parish resident aged over
18 may put their own name forward to be a Charity Trustee and a
seconder is not needed.
Nominations should be sent to the Secretary before 5pm on the 27th
October. This can be by post in the Seacourt Hall letterbox at the Library
end of the building (opposite Tesco Express) or by email to
treasurer@seacourthall.org.uk
If you would like more information in advance, including the
responsibilities of being a trustee, please see the website at
seacourthall.org.uk, call 07967 111014, or contact Lorna Berrett on
lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call for new members
The Botley/Kennington Patient Participation Group (PPG) is looking for
new members. We are all patients of the Practice and we exist to
develop a positive and constructive relationship between patients, the
practice and the community it serves, ensuring the practice remains
accountable and responsive to all its patients’ needs.
We meet on Zoom for about an hour and a half on the second Tuesday
of every month at 6 pm. We recognize this time is not good for some but
it is set to ensure the doctors and practice manager can also join us.
If you would like to join all you need to do is email Chris Sugden, the
Secretary, on csugden@ocrpl.org You will then be on the circulation
list and will get the Zoom details for each meeting. You don’t have to
come to every meeting just come when you can. Look forward to seeing
you soon. Thank you
Sylvia Buckingham, Chair PPG
17
West Way Square: nearly there
At the time of writing in mid-September, students have begun to move in
to the West Way accommodation, the returning shops are either open or
fitting out ready to move in, the Seacourt Hall is reopening, the
landscaping is nearly complete, and only IT issues are holding back the
reopening of the Library. So life is returning to the centre of Botley,
albeit with vacant units and activity massively restricted by the Covid-19
pandemic.
Our new shopping and community centre is opening at perhaps the
most uncertain time in all our memories. But while no opening
ceremony or large gatherings can be held, this outdoor space is where
we can see neighbours and friends and where we will welcome new
residents and businesses to our community in the future. We can also
support our local businesses and their staff who have been supporting
us all throughout the past months.
With the completion of this phase of the development in sight, Mace and
SDC held the final Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting of Phase 1
at the end of August (notes can be found on the North Hinksey Parish
Council website www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk). Phase 2 will follow, but
not until a revised planning application has been considered. It covers
“Block A” on the corner of West Way and Westminster Way, where the
former Grant Thornton and Elms Court buildings stand now. The revised
planning application is to add a further storey with an additional 30 flats,
making 150 flats and adding 1.5m in height, taking the approved 8-
storey building up to 9 storeys. NHPC objected to the amended
application due to its size, contradiction to current planning policy, and
lack of additional parking for the extra flats. The application will be
discussed by the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Planning
Committee on 21st October. Look out for news of their decision.
Meanwhile, many of us have questions about how the centre works:
questions about parking, pedestrian areas, what shops and restaurants
might be coming, a potential farmers’ market, how to ask permission to
hold an event, how to rent a shopping unit or a flat, and more. A website
is coming we are told, but in the meantime you can email the Facilities
Manager for the centre Lisa Himpson of Savills who is regularly on
site and can be contacted at Lisa.Himpson@Savills.com.
Please be aware that Church Way is closed to vehicles from 10am to
4pm and vehicles entering this space will be captured by the automatic
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number plate recognition system and may receive a fine in the post. The
car parks are all free for 2 hours and there is no need to get a ticket
from the machines unless you are staying longer. An application for free
evening parking has been submitted to the Vale but no news on that yet.
Following discussions at the CLG concerning security presence in the
centre over-night it has been confirmed that there will be a mobile night
security patrol as well as CCTV.
You can also continue to raise any questions with any Parish Councillor
(contact details on the NHPC website), and we will do what we can to
get answers on your behalf. Any updates we receive are posted on our
website and Facebook pages, and major notifications go onto the
noticeboards around the parish including a new noticeboard recently
installed on the grass area next to the community building. So look out
in all those places for news about the centre, the planning application
and the next phase.
Lorna Berrett, Chair of NHPC Communications Committee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poems for Breakfast
My mother, who hates thunderstorms…
The apples on the trees are full of wasps…
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you…
Aren’t these the most wonderful beginnings of sentences? Don’t you
want to know what happens? And if you read them out loud, slowly,
don’t they SOUND glorious? They are the first lines of three poems that
I have received in the last fortnight from Poems for Breakfast:
oxfordpoetrylibrary.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/poems-for-breakfast/.
It’s a free service from the Oxford Poetry Library, where you get emailed
a poem at about 7:45am every weekday. The poems are seasonal -- at
the moment they are about the end of summer and from poets that I,
at least, hadn’t heard of before. I signed up in March. I haven’t loved
every poem that I’ve been sent, but every single one has transported
me away from the bad news, and introspection and worry of the day.
You too might want to receive them. If you do, just email them. R.T.
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Prescriptions and Local Chemists
The Patients Participation Group (PPG) for Botley Medical Centre and
its branch surgery, Kennington Health Centre have produced a
summary of all the pharmacists in the catchment area along with their
policies for prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions. We have
separated out the ones relevant to the Sprout readership, but kept the
map, as it’s interesting to see how far the practice extends.
A Multidisciplinary Team at the surgery deals with a medication request.
This team includes doctors, pharmacists, physician associates and
nurse prescribers who liaise together and have access to the patient’s
medical notes. The manner in which it is prescribed can vary depending
upon the patient’s problem, ranging from (a) face-to-face in the surgery
(b) GP home visit (c) telephone consultation (d) video consultation or an
online consultation. The medication needed may also have been started
by Secondary Care at the Hospital or by a different clinic.
Once the medication request is processed or the Health Care
Professional has made a diagnosis that will need medication, the
prescription will be issued either via an electronic copy sent direct to the
patient’s choice of pharmacist, a paper copy given directly to the patient,
or a paper copy collected by the pharmacist from the surgery.
The Patient can collect their medicines from any pharmacist. The GP
will send the prescription to the Patient’s pharmacy of choice. Any
pharmacy can be chosen, including some outside the catchment area
that are open late and on Sundays.
It would be nice though to collect medicines from a local pharmacy
within the catchment area of the Botley Medical Centre and Kennington
Health Centre and be seen to support essential local businesses.
Patients with long term problems who require repeat prescriptions have
the following options for receiving medicines regularly:
Attending GP surgery to deliver
the white copy from the previous
prescription, ticking the boxes of
the medicines required
Attending the pharmacy with the
white copy of the previous pre-
scription, boxes ticked.
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Ordering a repeat prescription online, using the BMP protocol out-
lined below.
Emailing a request to occg.prescriptions.botleymedicalcentre
@nhs.net
Botley’s local pharmacists
Woodland Pharmacy
82 Botley Road
Oxford
OX2 0UB
Tel: 01865 242649
Hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.30pm.
Saturday 9am--1pm. Closed on Sundays.
Delivery Service available – currently free
Lloyds Chemist
Still in the portacabin to the left of Elms Parade, but hoping to
move into the smart new unit in the Square by the time you read
this.
Tel: 01865 247023
Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-1.00pm 2.00pm-6.30pm.
Sat 9.00am-5.30pm. Sun closed
Delivery Service available free/subscription (better check first)
N.B. Allow 2 working days for your prescription to be ready
How to Order Your Repeat Prescription Online
The Practice recommends you to request your prescription online, as
the safest and easiest way to make
sure you have the right medicine. You
will need to register for on line access
to order repeat prescriptions, and this
will also enable you to book appoint-
ments on line and to view a summary
of your medical records. They will send
the prescription to the chemist of your
choice.
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To register for the online service you complete the registration form via
the link on www.botleymedicalcentre.com or pick up the form from Re-
ception at the surgery. Print out the form, fill it in and hand it to Recep-
tion, who will generate a username and password for you and supply
you with full instructions. Please bring some photo ID with the form so
they can verify they are giving the log-in details to the correct person.
If your medication is due for review the process may take a little longer
and you may need to see the doctor, pharmacist or nurse before your
next prescription is issued. In common with most other practices, they
no longer take repeat prescription requests over the telephone, to avoid
the risk of mistakes.
Sylvia Buckingham
The map below shows the catchment area of the practice:
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Randoms
Going to the Doctor in 2020
Botley Medical Centre reminds patients to let the practice know of any
changes in your contact details as soon as possible, via email:
botleymedicalcentre@nhs.net or phone (01865 248719 or 730911).
Or you can update your own records at https://www.botley
medicalcentre.co.uk/ on the "Online Services" page or "Further
information: 7. Important Forms" Keep an eye on the practice website,
to stay in touch with the latest developments.
When patients have hearing difficulties they may be assessed (by email,
or via a carer or relative by phone) by a variety of professionals: the GP,
nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, paramedic or physician's associate.
After the assessment a face-to-face appointment will be offered if
needed.
Sewage Pollution in Seacourt Stream
At the Parish Council meeting on 10th September, it was agreed to
send a strongly worded message to Thames Water. The motion, put
forward by Cllr Bastin, seconded by Cllr Kay, went like this:
“This Parish Council notes, to its disgust, that Thames Water has
discharged sewage overflow into the Seacourt Stream a total of 63
times in 2019, for a total of 156 hours [reference supplied]. This council
further notes that Thames Water has been granted a 'temporary' permit
to do so by the Environment Agency. This Parish Council finds the
discharge of overflow sewage directly into the Seacourt Stream to be
unacceptable. This Parish Council therefore resolves to ask its Clerk to
contact Thames Water and the Environment Agency, asking the
following questions:
What is the drainage strategy for the area including North
Hinksey Parish?
What is the status of the two 'combined sewer overflows', Botley
Road SP48066205 CSO and North Hinksey Lane SP4905551A
CSO?”
The photo on the cover of this month’s Sprout first appeared in 2016,
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and shows Thames Water’s efforts to undo the effects of earlier sewage
spills. No doubt these have been happening more and more often, as
they are generally the consequence of heavy rainfall overwhelming the
sewers and flushing their contents into the river. Endsewagepollution
Thames is a campaign to get the practice banned from the whole river.
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Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to
editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean Metson,
firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, 1 Church Way, Botley
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark 0777
3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8 weeks.
Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S. Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan
Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at Seacourt Bridge Pub. Drop by,
message via Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30am. Contact Briony on Ox 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-
Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142
or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788
www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.
01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352
or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group Weds 2pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or email
emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
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North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121
voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council Sharon Henley, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz on 07791 212866 or see F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging Club 4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Harmony Men's Acap-
pella singing group
Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall, Contact
pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Raleigh Park, Friends of raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Saturdads at
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate Club 6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Walking for Health
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.45 Botley Library.
Alan 07941 610913
West Oxford Bowls Club Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865
570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A (Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley) Liz Manson, 244175 or liz.manson@virginmedia.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:
07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
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